The Athens Drive girls golf team is the two-time defending state champion and will have enough returning players to compete for a third title this year.

But the Jaguars did graduate individual champ Katherine Perry, now playing at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Sophomore Sarah Bae won the Dogwood State Junior Championships in Holly Springs this summer. She also shot 71 on the second day of the two-day championship event last year at the Foxfire Country Club to tie for second with a 148.

Junior Hilary Gugig was a top-25 finisher, and junior Manda Monchick was 30th.

Senior Valerie Procopio makes the squad at least four deep.

Coach Tony Alcon has been impressed with some newcomers. "We will not be quite as talented as last year, but we should be pretty good," Alcon said.

Bae, he said, has a near-perfect swing.

She is strong off the tee, very good with her irons and is a tremendous putter.

Green Hope: The Falcons were seventh in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A championships last year.

Seniors Nicole Keyser and Shannon Leonard are expected to be back